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Player of the Day: Trevor Ford

Welsh international striker Trevor Ford is regarded as one of the best front-men of his era.

A whole-hearted performer, who mixed his quality of finishing with an intense work rate, Ford became one of the top players of immediate post-war football.

Ford began his career with his hometown club Swansea before making guest appearances for Clapton Orient during the war.

Following the war, Ford joined Aston Villa before moving to Sunderland for a fee of £29,500 in October 1950.

Trevor scored a hat-trick on his home debut as the Black Cats hammered Sheffield Wednesday 5-1 at Roker Park and went on to score 17 goals in 31 games during his first season on Wearside.

It was during the 1951-52 season that Ford really made his mark at Roker as he notched 22 goals in 41 appearances.

A hat-trick in a 4-1 home victory over Chelsea was a particular highlight whilst doubles in wins over Arsenal and Wolves endeared him to the Sunderland fans.

Ford continued to impress in the following campaign, striking in wins over Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United within the first month of the season.

The Swansea-born striker scored twice in a 3-1 home victory over Liverpool before scoring four goals in a 5-2 win over Manchester City.

In total, Ford returned 22 goals in 33 games in his final full season with the Black Cats.

The Welshman was back to haunt Wolves and Arsenal again at the start of the 1953-54 campaign as he scored twice against the Black Country outfit in Sunderland first home game before bagging a hat-trick in a famous 7-1 win over the Gunners at Roker Park in September 1954.

Sunderland beat Liverpool 3-2 in Ford’s final match for the club before leaving for Cardiff City in December 1953.

Capped 38 times by his country, Ford scored 23 goals to make him Wales’ second highest all-time leading scorer.